An incumbent MP has hit out at an RAF air base for not consulting residents over plans to close the airport for resurfacing next year.

RAF Northolt - which is used by the Queen and the Prime Minister when they travel abroad - is said to be closing for resurfacing works in April 2018.

Gareth Thomas, the Labour MP for Harrow West before the dissolution of Parliament, asked Government Minister's about the proposals in Parliament and was told: "There are no plans to consult residents on [RAF Northolt's] future."

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The Ministry of Defence have not been able to confirm the exact nature of the planned works, how long they will take, or what they will cost, although they have previously suggested that the runway will be resurfaced and the safety zones at either end extended, according to the Labour candidate.

Where does the future of RAF Northolt lie? (Image: Google Maps)

Mr Thomas, Labour & Co-operative candidate for Harrow West, said: "It is outrageous that local residents will not be given any say over decisions on the future of RAF Northolt.

"Ministers have been hiding behind the airport's military designation even though there are now twice as many civilian flights operating out of the airport."

"With Ministers being so secretive over their plans we can only speculate that they may be carrying out works at RAF Northolt to expand civilian aircraft capacity because of their own delays to a third runway at Heathrow."

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In 2012, the limit on the number of flights operating in and out of RAF Northolt was lifted to 12,000 per year, triggering an increase in the number of civilian private jets taking off and landing at the airport.

Last year, a secret study that had been carried out in 2012 was uncovered showing that RAF Northolt fell short on a number of safety standards required for civilian airports but was allowed to continue to operate because of its formal designation as a military airport.

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Future of RAF Northolt

The Minister, Mark Lancaster, said that residents would not be consulted due to the military designation of the airport even though there are twice as many civilian flights operating out of RAF Northolt.

Proposals have also been put forward to the Ministry of Defence to allow commercial, scheduled flights to operate from RAF Northolt.

There is not set date or time-length for the closure but an RAF spokesman said the site will return to full flying operations when work is complete.

The spokesman said: “An investment is required in the runway at RAF Northolt to make improvements and extend its life.

“The runway will be closed from Spring 2018 in order to complete the required works.

“The Defence Infrastructure Organisation and the RAF are working closely together to ensure that disruption is kept to a minimum.”

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